Steam-heating system for hosiery driers and the like



March 6, 1934. $T|KLE 1,949,945

STEAM HEATING SYSTEM FOR HOSIERY DRIERS AND THE LIKE Filed June 12, 1931 7 Wed 95?. 52201526 Patented Mar. 6, 1934 UNITED STATES PATET ICE STEAM-HEATING SYSTEM FOR HOSIERY DRIER/S AND THE LIKE Fred A. Stickle, South Shaftsbury, Vt. Application June 12, 1931, Serial No. 543,980

7 Claims.

purpose.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists in a construction and arrangement of parts that will be hereinafter more particularly pointed out in connection with the accompanying drawing and more specifically described in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Figure l is an elevation of a hosiery drier constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical section on an enlarged scale through a portion of the apparatus.

Figure 3 is a view illustrating a slightly modified embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawing in the several views of which like parts are designated by the same reference characters, the embodiment of the invention illustrated includes a plurality of T- shaped fittings which are connected in and form part of a steam line or conduit, and with each of which fittings is connected a hollow heating or drying member having suitable steam inlet and outlet passages which communicate with the interior of each said fitting.

As shown, each fitting comprises a head portion 1 having inlet and outlet openings at its ends and a depending pocket 2 which provides a trap to receive water of condensation that may be formed within the fitting as the steam circulates through the system.

The several fittings are connected by conduit sections 3 leading from the outlet in the head of one fitting to the inlet in the head of the next fitting in the series and a steam supply pipe 4 provided with a cut-off valve 5, is connected with the inlet in the head of the first fitting of the series.

A suitable trap '7, such as is commonly provided with apparatus of the character to which the invention relates, is in communication with the outlet of the last fitting, 1, of the series through pipe 3, and is provided with an escape pipe 8 in the ordinary manner. The last conduit 3 acts as the main drain for the last fitting, and leads to the trap 7.

Within each of the fittings l and extending across the head thereof and downward into the trap 2, is arranged a bafile 10. This may be cast integral with the body of the fitting and the lower end thereof is spaced or separated slightly from the bottom of the pocket of the fitting, which pocket is provided at its bottom with a clean out or drain opening normally closed'by a removable plug 12.

The bafiie 10 extends completely across the head portion of the fitting, l, and is positioned between apertures 13, 14 provided in the top wall of the fitting and which openings are adapted to respectively be connected with the inlet and outlet 7 ports of a heating or drying member.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the drying element has the form of a stocking, the embodiment of the invention s ecifically illustrated being a hosiery drier.

The heating or drying element is shown as ineluding a foot 15 which is fastened by suitable means, as screws 16, to the top of the fitting 1, and said head or drying element is interiorly divided by a partition 17 into two chambers which communicate respectively with the ports or openings 13, 14 in the head of the fitting 1, before referred to.

As shown in Figure l, the interior partition 17 extends substantially throughout the length of the heating or drying element, being slightly 5 spaced from the toe portion thereof as at 20, so that steam entering through the port 13 is caused to travel throughout the length of the heating member and returned to the head of the fitting l and steam conduit through the port 14.

The bafie 10 causes the steam fiowing through the conduit to pass upward through the port 13 and into the heating or drying element. Any water of condensation forming in the fitting or heating element, is collected in the trap provided by the pocket 2.

In using apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention, it is intended that all of the steam shall pass through the first unit or fitting to the succeeding units or fittings and to avoid breaking the water seal which is formed in the trap of the first fitting 1 in case the area for passage of steam in the first unit is not sufiicient to pass the volume of steam required for the several units, or the succeeding unit or units,

each of the baffles 10 is provided within the head. portion of the fitting with a port or passage 25 controlled by a suitable valve 26. As shown, the valve 26 is carried by a weighted bell crank lever 27 and normally occupies the position shown in no Figure 2 in which the port is closed by the valve.

When, in an apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention, the steam supply valve 5 is first opened, the condensation due to the steam coming in contact with the cold walls of the first fitting and the heating or drying element thereon will collect in the trap formed in the pocket 2 of the fitting and seal the passage 11 below the lower edge of the baflie.

The steam will thus be caused to circulate through the heating or drying unit on the first fitting of the series and through the subsequent fittings. The transfer of heat from the steam to the several radiators, results in the contraction and condensation of the steam. Thus, the steam pressure is dissipated and must be supplied by a fiow of additional steam from the supply conduit 4. Necessarily the contraction and condensation of the steam, on the one hand, and the supply of steam under pressure on the other hand, creates a pressure differential on opposite sides of each baffle 10. If the drop in pressure resulting from rapid condensation of steam at one of the last few radiators were excessive, sufficient steam to again build up that pressure could not pass through the preceding radiators, and there would be a tendency to blow out the water of condensation in the preceding traps. However, unless this drop is in excess of the normal, the water seal will not be broken, because the valve 26 disposed across port 25 will open and permit the passage of the necessary volume of steam.

When differential pressure has been created to a point nearly suflicient to blow the seal or trap, the weighted valve 26 will be opened and allow the steam to pass to the other side of the baffle and to the succeeding units of the system. The opening of the valve is due to the difierence in pressure caused by the water seal or the resistance through the steam heated unit.

Obviously, instead of a weight, a suitable spring may be provided for afiording the desired resistance to movement of the valve. The valve will open at a slightly lower pressure than is required to expel the water from the trap and by the particular construction described I avoid the necessity of employing independent supply and return headers for the steam conduit.

The port 25 in the baflie and the valve 26 controlling the same are located above the level of the water in the trap, so that no water passes through said port which would have a tendency to damage the same.

While the invention is particularly adapted, and has been illustrated in the accompanying drawing as employed for heating hosiery drying forms, it is understood that certain of the features thereof are adapted for use with heating elements for other purposes, as it is obvious that any heating element having inlet and outlet passages adapted to communicate with the ports 13, 14 may be substituted for the particular stockingshaped element shown.

For example, instead of the particular form of heating or drying member shown, the apertures in the top of each fitting may be connected with the inlet and outlet of a sterilizer or similar de- Instead of connecting the heating or drying element directly to the fittings, by screws, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the ports 13a, 14a, formed in the top or" the fitting may, as shown in Figure 3, be internally threaded to receive suitable pipe sections which will connect respectively with the inlet and outlet openings of the heating or drying member.

Experience with hosiery driers embodying the present invention has shown that the improved drier is more economical in the use of steam and can properly and effectively dry stockings more expeditiously than has been possible with the constructions heretofore commonly employed.

Of course, it will be understood that the number of fittings and heating and drying elements connected therewith, will vary. In hosiery driers it is customary to supply eight, twelve, or more driers from a common steam conduit, and, of course, the invention is not limited to the use of any particular number of the elements described.

It is believed that the operation and advantages of the invention will be readily appreciated from the foregoing description and the drawing, and it will be seen that in the drawing certain of the parts are shown more or less conventionally.

Unless specifically described in the appended claims, the invention is not to be understood as being limited to the exact details shown.

I claim:

1. A steam heating system comprising in combination a steam supply conduit, having a plurality of pairs of openings in its top, said pairs being spaced one from the other lengthwise of the conduit, a heat radiator operatively connected to each of said pairs of openings, a trap depending from the conduit substantially opposite each of said pairs of openings, a baffle within each trap and extending upward therefrom across the conduit between the openings 0}. the pair of openings opposite that trap, saidbafiie being spaced from the bottom of the trap and having a port formed therein within the conduit, and a closure for said port movable in accordance with variations in pressure differential on opposite sides of the bafile.

2. A steam heating system comprising in combinaticn a steam supply conduit, having a plurality of pairs of openings in its top, said pairs of openings being spaced one from the other lengthwise of the conduit, a heat radiator operatively connected to each of said pairs of openings, a trap depending from the conduit sub stantially opposite each of said pairs of openings, a bafile within each trap and extending upward therefrom across the conduit between the openings of the pair of openings opposite that trap, the baffle being spaced from the bottom of the trap and having a port formed in its body within the conduit, and a swinging closure for said port adapted to open and close the port in accordance with variations in the pressure differential in the conduit on opposite sides of the bafiie.

3. A steam heating system comprising in combination a T-shaped fitting having an inlet at one end of its head and an outlet at the opposite end, and having two openings formed in the wall of its head between said inlet and outlet and connected respectively with the inlet and outlet oi. a suitable heating member, a baffle within and spaced from the bottom of the stem of the fitting and extending across the interior of the fitting head between said openings in the wall of the latter, said baffle having a port formed therethrough within the head of the fitting, and a. closure for said port in the baffle movable to open and close the port in accordance with variations in the pressure differential in opposite sides of the baflle.

4. A steam heating system comprising in combination a steam supply conduit having a plurality of pairs of openings in its top, said pairs being spaced one from the other lengthwise of the conduit, a heat radiator operatively connected to each of said pairs of openings, a trap depending from the conduit substantially opposite each of said pairs of openings, a battle within each trap extending upwardly therefrom across the conduit and between adjacent openings of said pairs of openings, said bafile being spaced from the bottom of the trap and having a port formed therein within the conduit, and valve means associated with said port to vary the eifective opening of said port and to control the flow of steam therethrough.

5. A heating system comprising in combination a steam supply conduit having a plurality of pairs of openings in its top, said pairs of openings being spaced one from the other lengthwise of the conduit, a heat radiator operatively connected to each of said pairs of openings, a trap depending from the conduit substantially opposite each or" said pairs of openings, a baflie within each trap extending upwardly therefrom across the conduit and between adjacent openings of said pairs of openings, the bafile being spaced from the bottom of the trap and having a port formed in its body within the conduit, and an adjustable swinging closure for said port adapted to open and close the port to control the flow of steam therethrough.

6. A heating system comprising in combination a steam supply conduit having a plurality of pairs of openings in its top, said pairs being spaced one from the other lengthwise of the conduit, a heat radiator operatively connected to each of said pairs of openings, a trap depending from the conduit substantially opposite each of said pairs of openings, a bafile within each trap extending upwardly therefrom across the conduit and between adjacent openings of said pairs of openings, said baifie being spaced from the bottom of the trap and having a port formed therein within the conduit, and a closure for said port constantly urged toward closed position but movable to open position in accordance with variations in the pressure difierential on opposite sides of said baflie.

7. A heating system comprising in combination a steam supply conduit having a plurality of pairs of openings in its top, said pairs being spaced one from the other lengthwise of the conduit, a heat radiator operatively connected to each of said pairs of openings, a trap depending from the conduit substantially opposite each of said pairs of openings, a baffle within each trap extending upwardly therefrom across the conduit and between adjacent openings of said pairs of openings, said baffie being spaced from the bottom of the trap and having a port formed therein within the conduit, and a weighted swinging closure for said port normally held in closed position by said weight but movable to variable degrees of opening against the action of said weight in accordance with variations in the pressure differential on opposite sides of said bafiie.

FRED A. S'IICKLE. 

